Devils Can't Hold Lead in Loss to Pens | GAME STORY

NEWARK, NJ - The Devils built an early 2-0 lead, including scoring the opening goal in 15 seconds, but surrendered four unanswered goals in a 4-2 setback to Pittsburgh at Prudential Center on Friday night.

Erik Haula opened the scoring in 15 seconds and six minutes later Ondrej Palat extended the Devils’ lead.

Evgeni Malkin got the Penguins on the board and Valtteri Puustinen tied the game at 2-2 65 seconds into the second period. Sidney Crosby’s power-play goal in the third period proved to be the game-winner while Bryan Rust added an empty-netter.

The Devils have three regular-season games remaining, finishing at home Wednesday night against Detroit.

“We have three more of these to get our team game where we want it to be,” defenseman Brenden Dillon said. “We saw it in spurts tonight, but overall we need it for a full 60, maybe more.”

Here are some observations from the game:

• The Devils were looking for a response game following an embarrassing 7-2 loss to Boston on Tuesday. It took all of 15 seconds for the Devils to show that they would respond the right way.

Forward Erik Haula tallied his 10^th goal of the season to give New Jersey an early, early 1-0 lead. Six minutes later Ondrej Palat would pick up his 15^th goal of the season with a shin pad deflection to make it 2-0. And just like that, the Devils were off and running.

“I wanted to get off to a great start. Show that we can go out and play and take control of the game," Keefe said. "We didn’t do that the last time out. That’s something we wanted to get right today.”

• With the Devils leading 2-0, Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry made two great saves that allowed Pittsburgh to get back in the game. First, he denied Dawson Mercer from point blank at the crease. Then he did a split pad save on Palat on a one-timer. Had the Devils scored on either of those and taken a 3-0 lead, perhaps this game is a blowout. Instead the Penguins were able to claw back with a couple of goals and tie it at 2-2.

"We had some opportunities that we just didn't bury," Keefe said. "So, we didn't put them away."

• Special teams determined this game for Pittsburgh. The Penguins scored two power play goals and it was almost three as Evgeni Malkin’s goal came seconds after a power play expired.

Crosby scored the winner on a power play after Cody Glass was called for high sticking him.

"Penalties kill momentum. I took a stupid penalty," Glass said. "Even if I thought I was doing the right thing or someone lifted my stick, it was a dumb play. ... I need to be smarter than that, smarter with my stick and I think that just killed us."

• Haula made a great read on his game-opening goal. Brett Pesce made a nice chip off the glass beyond a pinching Penguins defenseman Conor Timmins. With the pinch, Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust tried to fill the D gap. Haula recognized that and busted up ice to get ahead of Rust for a breakaway. Instead of playing it as a 2-on-1, Erik Karlsson cheated on Mercer, who easily flipped the puck to Haula for the breakaway. From there, Haula buried high blocker side.

• Palat picked up his second goal in the past seven games while cutting to the net. Former Penguin Cody Glass recorded a point against his old employer when his shot went off the shin pad of Palat and past Tristan Jarry for the goal.